My Thoughts on the Violence in Thailand

Violence is never the solution to our problems. History has shown time and again that using violence against oppression, however unjustified, always eventually fails.

One such example would be the infamous Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Noble as their cause may be, that is, to end discrimination against the Tamils in Sri Lanka, they have, out of frustration and anger, turned from practicing peaceful negotiations to resorting to violence as the only way to solve their problems. What happened in the end, of course, proved all their efforts to be fruitless. After over 30 years of senseless fighting, the militant group Tamil Tigers were defeated and their leader shot. A new Tamil Tigers emerged, but this time in the form of a democratic political party.

In the case in Thailand, both parties, the government and the protesters, are in the wrong. The protesters have resorted to violence and riots, while the government used the army to further suppress them. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously said,

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

We, the people fighting for freedom in Singapore, must be careful never to lower ourselves to the standards that our oppressors live by, otherwise we will be no different from them. Only through Love and Non-violence can we achieve our goal of freedom in Singapore.

"38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."